KUALA LUMPUR: The release of audio clips by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) over a case linked to former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak was done legally.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law) Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan said, however, a police investigation was carried out and centred on the possibility of unlawful release of information used in official investigations.
"The audio recording revealed by the MACC in Jan 2020 is allowed by the law (discretionary power) and it does not violate any provision of the law.
"However, based on the latest development, the police have completed investigations and (the papers) have been forwarded to the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) on June 19, 2020, for advice and views," he said in a written reply to a question by Tan Sri Noh Omar (BN - Tanjong Karang) yesterday who questioned MACC's integrity in revealing the recordings.
On Jan 8, the MACC, at the time headed by Latheefa Koya, released nine audio clips of conversations allegedly between Najib, his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor and former MACC chief Tan Sri Dzulkifli Ahmad, among others, in 2016.
One conversation allegedly involved Dzulkifli, when he was still a prosecutor, informing Najib about an "investigation paper".
Latheefa had claimed Dzulkifli appeared to have leaked investigation details to Najib who was a possible suspect at the material time.
A week later, Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador said the police were probing the audio clips from three angles.
The first angle of the investigation was under Section 203A of the Penal Code, which concerns the disclosure of information regarding an official investigation.
A violation of this law can carry a maximum fine of RM1 million, a maximum one-year jail term, or both.
The second was Section 218 of the Penal Code, which concerns public servants framing an "incorrect record" to save a person from punishment.
This offence carries a maximum three-year jail term, a fine, or both.
The third angle was under Section 8 of the Official Secrets Act (OSA) 1972 which concern the wrongful communication of official secrets.
This offence carries a maximum jail term of seven years.